Apple iBook G4

Price: 450 - 450

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Love my new iBook1110912836

Pros:

Lighter than old clamshell, runs System X

Cons:

Still drags on the shoulder

I just bought a new iBook to replace the clamshell model I bought to take to on vacation in 2000. I loved that iBook, but I'd pushed the system software as far as it was practical, and it just wasn't keeping up. Also, the thing weighs something like 8 pounds.

The new one is awesome. I just took it on vacation, and was able to plug into the hotel's high-speed connection with an ethernet cord, and operate wireless in hot spots. It's fast and stable.

My digital camera plugs right in and downloads via iPhoto, so I could send pictures home with no fuss. AND I watched a DVD on the plane. The monitor is clear and bright -- I kinda wish I'd sprung for the next bigger one (no special reason -- just because), but I can live with the 12-inch.

This one weighs about half what the old one did, but it still got heavy lugging it around airports.

Also -- be sure to "mark" yours in some distinctive way. There were two identical new iBooks that went through airport security screening one right after the other, and the screener wasn't sure which belonged to whom. We had to turn one on to figure it out. On the trip home, I put a post-it with a "note to self" on the track pad.

I've been using Macs since 1989. This one more than lives up to expectations.